WORLAND – The Lovell Police Department has started an incentive program to reward Lovell children for performing outstanding acts of kindness, civic cooperation and demonstrating civic mindedness in their community.

While the program is focused toward children it is open to all Lovell citizens.

Lovell Police Officer Shantel Stahl stated that when a child does an act of kindness and police officers notice, the child will receive a wooden nickel that states that the child is an outstanding citizen. The child can later take that wooden nickel and exchange it at a participating business to receive a free gift.

“We have local businesses that have agreed to absorb the cost for things, where they can redeem these nickels at. We have Queen Bee gardens, Lovell Drug, Country Store and Maverick who have chosen to participate with us at this time so the children can take these wooden nickels into any participating businesses. They are helping us out with free products for the kids as a reward for being great,” Stahl said. She added that participating businesses have a “Lovell Outstanding Citizen Program” poster displayed in their window.

Stahl explained that the wooden nickel program is an updated program from years past. She stated that before she became a police officer her son was given a wooden nickel from a fellow officer for wearing a helmet while riding his bike. At the time she had no idea what it was for and upon becoming an officer she asked Lovell Police Chief Dan Laffin what the story was behind the wooden nickels. Laffin explained that the wooden nickels could be exchanged for an ice cream.

Upon hearing that Stahl, requested to update the program and find more businesses to participate so that the recipient of the wooden nickel would have more options.

Stahl stated that she feels that the program will not only give children the incentive to do great things but also make the officer/child relationship stronger. She stated that she felt that by receiving a reward for their good deeds that the children will be a little less intimidated by police officers and will find it cool to have an officer stop and talk to them. “I think it’s also good for community policing because when kids do good things and get rewarded by police officers it helps us build a connection with those children,” Stahl said.